Read:

I’ve read a great selection of novels this month, all four and five star reads. Six of the above were review titles sent to me by publishers, with Appreciation being the only title I read in April that was from my own tbr. It was read for book club. My reading highlight of the month was Long Island, the long-awaited sequel to Brooklyn, which is a long-time favourite novel of mine. This follow up was just as glorious and emotionally charged as its predecessor. My love for Irish fiction has no expiry. The quickest book I read in April was All the Beautiful Things You Love, powering through it in just an afternoon. I don’t get to do that very often, but when I do, I take full advantage of the spare time, particularly if I have such a good book in my hands. I’ve been looking closely at my reading this year and feel as though I haven’t been giving review titles as much of my reading attention as I used to so that has become my reading goal for the foreseeable future, to read more of what is being generously sent to me by publishers. My April reading has made for a good start with that goal.

Listen:

Paige Toon’s latest was a joy to listen to and I’ve followed that up with Alannah Hill’s 2018 memoir, Butterfly on a Pin, which is wildly entertaining. No duds this month on the listening front.

Watch:

I’ve watched some quality TV this month along with two great movies. Ripley is of course adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s novel, The Talented Mr Ripley. It is very different to the previous film adaptation, and this seems to be dividing viewers. Personally, I enjoyed it a lot. Shot entirely in black and white, it was incredibly atmospheric and chilling. Another book to film adaptation was Blueback, based on the Tim Winton novel of the same name. This was a gorgeous film, both beautiful visually and deeply emotional. My watch of the month was definitely Happy Valley, the British crime series which has its latest and final season on ABC iView. I watched all three seasons within a week, which is very unusual for me, but I just couldn’t stop watching. I’ve turned to something lighter now by immersing myself into The Great British Sewing Bee. It’s like hot chocolate and a warm blanket for the soul.

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That’s a wrap for April, a few days shy of the end of the month, I know, but tomorrow begins another working week, so I’m pretty certain there will be no more completed reads to squeeze in. Seven read and two listened to, I’m feeling like that’s a good tally to finish on. Until next month, good reading!